North Greece Fire District discusses station relocation
Public meeting on bond process set for March 19 at 7 p.m.

The Commissioners of the North Greece Fire District will hold a public meeting at the Fireman’s Field, 3666 Latta Road, on Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m., to discuss a bond referendum to relocate Station #1 from its present location at 3564 Latta Road to 645 North Greece Road.

Station #1 protects the largest area of the North Greece Fire District, and responds to over 1,500 calls a year, according to district officials. The district has experienced significant growth, and has the largest growth potential of all the Greece fire districts. Efficiency and rapid response times are goals of the relocation.

District personnel list numerous factors for the change. Station #1 was first built in 1922, when traffic volume was practically an unheard of concern. Now it is a major safety hazard, and source of potential delay in response to emergencies. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, the volume of traffic at the intersection of Latta Road (Route 18) and North Greece Road averages 11,000 to 12,000 vehicles a day. Having a fire station sited at a busy intersection can result in a dangerous decrease in response time for exiting fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles. The volunteer firefighters who respond to the fire station often have to wait an extended period, as they navigate the traffic congestion. Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, have a difficult time exiting in heavy traffic. Any delay in response - even seconds - has the potential to increase damage, and loss to property, or even life, in the event of an emergency. Currently when emergency vehicles return to Station #1, they have to turn around and back up in the middle of Latta Road, since the current apron in front of the station does not have enough room to allow this. Backing up apparatus is dangerous and a leading cause of accidents. Backing in heavy traffic with vehicles swerving around the apparatus compounds the problem.

DOT recognizes that the highway is overloaded and intends to widen the road at some point in the future. Until such time, the congestion and overcrowding will only get worse. In addition, when Route 18 is widened, Station #1 will lose a major section of the frontage needed to maneuver the fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles quickly and safely. Either way, it is a problem that must be addressed now, say district officials.

The district proposes to bond $2.9 million to relocate Station #1 to property the district already owns at 645 North Greece Road. The district will also be seeking public approval to sell the existing station and property. The vote is April 2 at Station #1, 3564 Latta Road.

This is the first bond referendum that the North Greece Fire District has requested since 1987.